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Mountains and Sky -the Borrowed View in a Niwot Prairie Meadow

My borrowed view is unfortunately the featureless rear stucco walls of the two homes that back up to mine. Mary and Larry Scripter can claim fields, farms and prairies unfolding west to the Rocky Mountains. The peaks are the ultimate geographic focal point as the backdrop to their Lauren Springer/Scott Ogden designed meadow. The Scripters are native to the prairies of the Midwest-Larry grew up in Kansas and Mary in South Dakota. They began the process of creating this Niwot Colorado garden in 2011, and in 2012 completed it-planting a mind-boggling 1800 plants in three weeks. The result is a dynamic living theater where birds and insects thrive and the rhythm of life unfurls with the seasons.

The gently triangular shape of the mown fields outside the
border of the cultivated garden points the eye west to the mountains.

Bloggers headed out to the meadow , but there seemed to be an enthusiastic mosquito population to greet us-the Scripters were stationed on the deck to offer us a spritz of repellent before we ventured forth. I am one of the chosen who either lacks appeal or has no reaction to their bites-I don't know which.

Looking back toward the house , bloggers relax and enjoy the view from the deck.

There are always robust discussions of what the 'Plant of Fling' might be each year. You can make an argument for Penstemon, Peonys or Sempervivums but I'm going on record for the Columbine. It's on the Denver Fling logo, and it was just about in every garden. I rest my case.

Alliums, Columbine and Sanguisorba were the primary bloomers in the meadow on this June day. I did some googling because I was really interested to see this garden in winter . I was unsuccessful but I found a photo from an unidentified month-August or September is my best guess-that displayed an intense colorstorm of Muhly grass, Asters, Sedum and Echinaceas among other things. I won't share here due to possible copyright restrictions but do some searching yourself and you might find it.

This is a brief sampling of the numerous images I took of these two trees. Went into landscape photography mode.

I took some photos around the front of the house as well . There were a couple of really nice colorful island beds along the driveway area, featuring a more traditional design but still full of the climate appropriate plants we had become accustomed to seeing in Colorado.

I was tormented by the conifers.

I took this on the way out-should have taken it on the way in. Either way, it is a typical sentiment from the gardeners that welcomed 2 busloads of garden communicators with warmth and cordiality.

Glorious photos, Kathy! Your photography courses are showing their value with each new post. The prairie/meadow views grabbed and held my attention. If only the skyline I looked out on at the moment featured lovely cloud formations and visibly clean air like that! With the heat on here now, our air quality has plummeted and looking out at our skyline is a reminder to take short-shallow breaths. Reading about your resistance to bug bites, I couldn't help but be envious as I've had more bites and stings (spiders, fire ants, and mosquitoes) this year than I can ever remember. I hate bug spray but fear I may need to start bathing in the stuff.

The two trees were in the photo I found on Pinterest too. I try to take at least one photo workshop a year, but the best one I ever did was a three day class in Yosemite in fall a few years back. I learned so much there; it was well worth the price.

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